The New York Yankees entered their September 9 home game riding a hot streak of winning 11 of their last 13 games. They only dropped two games against the Astros and Blue Jays. But a dangerous problem was hiding in plain sight, and it exploded in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers on their Tuesday game.

The game was tied 2-2 when the team’s struggling shortstop, Anthony Volpe, stepped up to the plate. Volpe attempted a bunt, which popped up on a Casey Mize’s 94 mph sinker, and he was fouled out to Tigers third baseman Colt Keith. For fans who saw Volpe go 0-for-3 for the night and have a slashline of .125/.160/.167 (going 3 for 24) for the last 7 games, and in a season-wide slump where he posted a .207 batting average with the American League leading 19 errors — it was the boiling point.

The Bleacher Creatures booed Volpe after that bizarre play. In fact, Talkin’ Yanks quickly posted the video, showing the shortstop’s blunder with a tweet that read: “Volpe pops up a bunt and hears it from the crowd.”

This on-field drama was immediately followed by a report from ESPN’s Buster Olney on ESPN Radio. “Rival executives think Yankees are considering moving on from Volpe this offseason.” While it’s not a guarantee and a decision will likely come after the World Series concludes, the fact that other teams are openly discussing it means the idea is on the table.

Even manager Aaron Boone, Volpe’s biggest defender, seems to be feeling the pressure, as he now admits he’s considering a change. Before the Tigers series, Boone mentioned he thinks about it daily. “Maybe, I think about it everyday,” Boone shared. “Still hoping that Anthony’s best is still in front of him.”

Just a few months ago, General Manager Brian Cashman was firm. “He’s our shortstop,” Cashman noted, promising Volpe would be “part of the solution.”  But meanwhile, Boone’s public hesitation and Olney’s report are a world away from the front office’s earlier confidence.

If Volpe is benched or traded, who steps in?

The most obvious answer is José Caballero, the Yankees’ acquisition this trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays. In fact, Boone mentioned before their game against the Tigers, “I also love the flexibility Caballero gives you off the bench too,” while considering him at the starting position. That obviously didn’t materialize because of the skipper’s “believe and hope” for Volpe.

Still, it cannot be ignored that Caballero has hit .233/.346/.419 with 9 steals in 10 tries, since arriving at the deadline. He also offers far better defense (+5 OAA), gets on base far more than Volpe, and doesn’t make costly errors. That makes him a safe, reliable option who can immediately steady the ship.

Looking further ahead, the Yankees have George Lombard Jr in the system. And scouts and fans believe he has the potential to turn things around. Plus, just recently, he scored his 8th home run of the season for Double-A Somerset. Yet, being a 20-year-old, it might be too soon to bank on him.

Meanwhile, the free-agent market also offers some big names for the 2026 roster, like Toronto’s Bo Bichette. Bichette is an offensive powerhouse and can stabilize the offense in front of Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. But his defense comes under the same umbrella as Volpe.

But there’s one final point: Last postseason, Volpe slashed .286/.407/.408 with a grand slam on the biggest stage in October. Cashman hasn’t forgotten that. So the question remains: Can a hot October erase a cold summer? Maybe. But ignoring a season-long slump will be tough for a team chasing rings.